Anil Ajitabh and (right) Kunal Singh at the news conference at Hotel Maurya in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Feb. 13: Famous Bhojpuri actor Kunal Singh today asked the state government to support Bhojpuri artistes in terms of providing better infrastructure in the state for shoots.

Bhojpuri cinema will complete its golden jubilee on the 16th of this month and on the occasion, Foundation for Media, Culture and Cinema Awareness (FMCCA) has organised a three-day Bhojpuri cultural festival starting tomorrow.

Singh has worked in more than 100 films and given more than 30 hits, which includes Ganga kinare mora gaon, Dharti Maiya, Panditji bataai na biyah kab hoyee, Hamara se biyah karba and Dulha Ganga par ke.

Reacting upon the government initiative, Singh further said: “The government must take steps forward to bring Bhojpuri films on national and international level. Because of the non-availability of good place in Bihar, the Bhojpuri artistes have been shooting in Mumbai and other states. If we will get the right place why would we go to other states?”

When asked about the quality of films at present, he added: “Every year, hundreds of Bhojpuri films are being completed but most of them are vulgar because of their rowdy lyrics, double meaning dialogues and filthy item numbers. Even the titles of movies sound very bad. These need to be changed, earlier we had good movies but now the very essence of Bhojpuri films is missing. There are very few films that can be considered fit for family viewing. Bhojpuri cinema can still do better if it sticks to its roots and the rural culture.”

The three-day programme would be held at AN Sinha Institute and Shri Krishna Memorial Hall where famous personalities such as Ravi Kissen, Manoj Tiwari Sharda Sinha, Chhannulal Mishra, Bharat Sharma Vyaas, Girija Devi, Malini Awasthi, Brajkishor Dubey, Nitin Chandra and Tripurari Sharan would take part.

Some famous movies of Bhojpuri cinema will also be screened at the festival which includes Ganga Mayya tohe piyari chadhaibo, Balam pardesia, Hamaar Sansaar, Sasura bada paisawala, Deswa.

Bhikhari Thakur’s Bidesiya will also be performed in a play directed by Sanjay Upadhyay. Famous Bhojpuri personalities will put forward their views in a seminar.

Director Anil Ajitabh, who has directed many Bhojpuri films like Ranbhumi, said: “Earlier, the films used to be successful because they depicted rural culture and attracted the audience for their clean entertainment.”

Reacting again on the issue of the state government initiative, Ajitabh further said: “Crores of people speak Bhojpuri but the language has still not been recognised by the Indian Constitution. The state government must make concrete plan to take this language to a global level. There is no dearth of talent in Bihar but until and unless we don’t get the support of the state government we can’t do anything and Bhojpuri artistes will keep migrating from the state.”

Bhojpuri films critic Alok Ranjan said: “Bhojpuri industries have to understand that the films can survive without showing vulgarity and the directors must learn from the failure of many high-budget films. The directors must concentrate on good and quality films, which the families can come to view.”